A culture system was established for mass rearing of the Russian knapweed nematode, Subanguina picridis (Kirjanova) Brzeski. This system consisted of two parts; a shoot culture system used as the host plant source for the nematode culture, and a monoxenic nematode culture system. The nematode developed and reproduced in this system. Galls were induced on the leaves, stems, and shoot tips of cultured Russian knapweed (Acroptilon repens (L.) DC.) shoots. After 3 months in culture, the nematode number per petri dish increased from the initial 50 inoculated to 7,000-10,000, a 140 to 200 fold increase. This study represents the first time that an above-ground gall forming nematode has been propagated in vitro. It also represents a unique monoxenic nematode culture system to mass rear above-ground endoparasitic plant nematodes. / Various factors, including tissue type, tissue age, medium, and temperature, which affect the formation and development of galls, were examined. The nematode failed to reproduce in callus tissues, and it could not develop beyond the 4th stage in excised root cultures. The optimum incubation conditions determined were: 60-80 $ mu$molm$ sp{-2}$s$ sp{-1}$ light intensity, 20 C temperature, and 4-8 mm for shoot length. / The virulence of cultured nematodes was tested in the greenhouse on Russian knapweed seedlings and vegetative shoots from root segments. The results demonstrated the feasibility and application of this novel mass production system. Nematodes produced in this system were virulent and the growth rate of infested Russian knapweed were reduced.

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